black fins on fantail

[mollykins]

some of the edges of the fins on my fantail goldfish are going black. is it diseased or dirty? i was going to change some of the water today as i got them last sunday and its going a bit murky.

what should i do?

[divegirl]

How big is your tank and how many fish are in it?
How big are the fish?
Are you running a filter?
Did you cycle your tank?
Have you checked the water for ammonia?

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=418 />
This sounds like ammonia burns to me.

Lisa x

[mollykins]

15 litres - baby fantail (4CM) two nearly fully grown minnows and 2 baby danios.
i have a filter that was running for about a week before i got the fish
no - the pet shop had to kind of test kits for anything like chemicals/ph ect

[mollykins]

plus when i clicked your link, the practical fishkeeping banner came up with a blank page under it.

[mollykins]

are amonia burns life threateningly bad? plus now i've looked and the very edges are going back to their original colour so its just a bit off black a couple of mm in.

[divegirl]

Your tank is severly over stocked!!!

Goldfish need a minimum of 20 gallons for the first fish.
Dannios, although small need a large swimming area.

Try this link now....not sure what happened before.

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=418 />
and this one.....

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=175355 />
Ammonia is/can be fatal to fish, all I can suggest is a massive water change, at least two a day [using de-chlorinated water], until you can re-home the fish, buy a much bigger tank or return the fish to the shop.

Good luck

Lisa x

[divegirl]

Don't know what is happening to the links!!!!

Google 'goldfish tank size' and look at the Practical Fishkeeping Magazine article.

or try Tropical Fish Forums [TFF] for a guide to cycling your tank [go to the New to Hobby section and look in the beginners guide.

Lisa x

Ps.....you are in what is called a 'fish-in cycle'....not something for the faint hearted or the lazy....unless you want lots of dead fishes :o{

[divegirl]

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/goldfish/FantailGoldfish.php

[mollykins]

the guy a mix of ten danios/ w.c.m minnows or a fantail and 6 littlens.

[mollykins]

*at the pet store said

[mollykins]

i thought that you were meant to have a cm/litre but the guy seemed ok with the amount of fish i have.

what shouldi do next?

[divegirl]

You need to do do big water changes [up to 70%] and then find new homes for your fish....or buy a much bigger tank! By bigger I'm talking about 40 US gallons.
Please read the links I have posted.

Lisa x

[divegirl]

Hi Mollykins, how are the fish today?

Lisa x

[mollykins]

perculilarly (probably spelt wrong) its only my goldfish that is ill. the much small minnows and danios are fine.
the goldfish is starting to go a tiny bit black on its scales.!!!!!

[divegirl]

Have you decided what you are going to do yet?
Definatley sounds like ammonia burns.....don't be surprised if you lose him....external damage is only part of the picture.....it burns on the inside too!

Lisa x

[mollykins]

there isn't a place near me that just deals with fish or even fish and reptiles. there was an aquatic centre but it expanded and has all kinds of animals now.

[divegirl]

Whereabouts are you? May know someone who help you out.

Lisa x

[mollykins]

i went away for the weekend and my dad changed the water because he said it was getting to murky and when i came back today, fanta was almost completely better, just a tiny smidgen of black on the tips of its tail.

but my dad said he didnt put any conditioner in the water so i put a little bit in when i got back.